Swedish Maverick Mayor Turns
Town's Budget Deficit Into Surplus

NACKA, Sweden -- Before Erik Langby took over as mayor, Nacka's pensioners enjoyed regular free visits at town-run podiatry clinics to ease the strain of long Nordic winters on their feet.

Now, they choose among three private practices and two state-owned clinics, paying with vouchers issued by the town government. By exposing the system to market pricing, Nacka has cut its podiatry bill in half, says Mr. Langby. And, he argues, the...